float 1 of 2

Definition of floatnext
1
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a canoe floating down the river particles of dust floating in the air

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2
as in dock
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers the crew put the cargo on the float before heading back down the river

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of float
Verb
OpenAI has reportedly floated an offer to give the federal government a 5 percent ownership stake in the company. James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 Monitor Temperature and Water Quality A floating pool thermometer—available for around $10—tells you if your pond is getting too hot. Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
Noun
Marco Pacheco, whose family owns the flagship Sip 'n Dip Donuts store on the Bristol parade route, said the 250th anniversary brought more floats than in previous parades. Nolan Rogalski, The Providence Journal, 5 July 2026 The event attracts over 60,000 spectators and showcases floats, marching bands, equestrians, dance groups, antique cars and community organizations. Jane Tyska, Mercury News, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for float
Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
Verb
  • Dark clouds hovered around the stadium just before kickoff, threatening to delay the start of the game, but Mother Nature apparently is a soccer fan, because the storm veered away.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • Temperatures in the beach cities pleasantly hovered in the 70s, a stark contrast to East Coast communities broiling in a heat wave.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • However, because his hearing aids connected directly to the ringtone, the two ended up wandering around the house, using the changing volume to narrow down its location instead of listening for the phone itself.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026
  • Modeled after a European village, the collection of boutiques, restaurants, and attractions is a great place to wander.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • Whistling and cheering, crowds gathered on the concrete dock below.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The morgue that serves La Guaira is makeshift—a white tent on a dock lined with body bags and coffins.
    Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Facing no one but the goalkeeper, Moshobane sailed an uncontested shot from 18 yards over the top of the net.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
  • The ship was sailing an Alaska and Canada voyage round-trip from San Francisco, according to CruiseMapper.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Visitors can hike trails and drive a scenic route through the colorful, rugged Badlands where bison and wild horses roam.
    Jack Dura, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • The age of sail, when pirates like Johnny Depp’s fictional Jack Sparrow roamed the seven seas, ended about 200 years ago.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Vanuatu has received large loans and aid from China for buildings, wharves and other infrastructure.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
  • The father wanted nets and the smell of the wharf.
    Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • The incident occurred when Clark and her colleagues took a break to swim in the Econlockhatchee River near the Barr Street trailhead, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • It is considered unsafe to swim in the rivers for at least 48 hours after a storm.
    Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • Yamal was a thorn in Saudi Arabia’s side, drifting infield to unleash shots from distance but also peppering the penalty area with wicked deliveries from the right flank.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • When those models drift or their assumptions fail, errors can scale rapidly.
    Akhilesh Sharma, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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